Support or easel for picture-cards and the like.



.w J. SATTERLEE.

SUPPORT 0R EASEL FOR PICTURE CARDS AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED'DEC.16'. 1.916.

1 ,237; 560. Patented Aug. 21, 1917.

WITNESSES INVENTOR ATTORNEYS connnc'rrcuyr.

. .sfirromon EASELFQR s eves-seamen IK L w rewo- T 0 all whom it mayconcern:

Be it=known that 1, WILLIAM "J: SATTER- LEE, a citizen of the United atDanbury, county of Fairfield, State of Connecticut, have invented anImprovement in Supports or Easels for Picture- Cards and the like, ofwhich the following is a specification.

Thisinvention relates generally to supports in the nature of easels forthe display of mounted photographs, picture-cards and post-cards,advertising display-cards, and the like, and has for its object theprovision of an exceedingly inexpensive device of this character, yetone which will be amply strong and stable in use.

My invention consists, generally, in a frame, brace and pictureor cardengaging and retaining means all formed from a single strand of wire,'andfurther consists in various details of construction, configurationand arrangement of parts as hereinafter described and particularlypointed out in the claim.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a support or easel embodying myinvention, show ing the manner in which the card or picture is mountedtherein, a part of the latter being broken away, and

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a slightly modified form of the device.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be noted that myimproved support or easel is constructed in its entirety from a singlestrand of wire. In the preferred construction, as shown in Fig. 1, thestrand of wire is bent into substantially rectangular form, providingthe side portions 5 5 and the bottom portion 6, the top portioncomprising the two parts 7 and S of the strand which are suitably joinedtogether, at the middle of said top portion, preferably by twisting. themeeting parts of the strand, as at 9, thus leaving projecting ends 10and 11 of the strand which may be bent downwardly at a proper supportingangle with the plane of the frame and with each other, and made of suchlength, that a stable prop is provided to support the frame upon anyfiat surface in a slightly tilted position.

Specification of Letters iatent.

States, residing.

In forming the frame, what may be termed double loops,'. or pairs ofloops .are

provided at the corners thereof. At each end of the bottom portion 6 ofthe frame the wire is formed into a relatively 12 and again into acontiguous and corresponding loop 13 prior, to being directed upwardlyto form the side portion 5, at the top end of which a pair ofcorresponding loops 1 1 and 15 are formed from which the wire is carriedlaterally to provide the top portion of the frame, as described. It isto be noted in connection with the pair of loops at each corner of theframe that the cross or connecting portion 16 between the loops passesover or in front of the side and top or bottom portions of the frame,whereby what may be termed a spring clip is formed at each cornerthereof, so that a photograph, card,-or the like, 17, of proper size,may be mounted in said frame by merely passing the corners of the formerunderneath or back of the connecting portion 16 of the loops and thesame firmly but removably held, in said frame by the inherent resiliencyof the metal of which the wire is formed.

It will be apparent that the relative dimensions of a frame and braceembodying my invention are not important, nor is it essential that theframe be of general rectilineal character. In fact, when employed todisplay a relatively verythin and flexible card, or one which has beentreated in such manner as to produce a tendency to curl or becomedistorted, it is oft-times highly desirable to provide some form ofbacking therefor, and this I may provide by in-curving the side andbottom, and possibly the top, portions of the wire of the frame, asshown in Fig. 2. In this construction, it will be seen that thedeflection of these portions of the wire toward the center provide backsupports for the picture or card which are located intermediate thecenter and the extreme edges of the former, thereby not only betterresisting inherent forces tending to distort or curl the containedsheet, but also better guarding against accidental dislodgment thereof.

Many other modifications of the construction, contour and arrangement ofparts of a device embodying my invention will doubtless readily suggestthemselves to those skilled in the art to which it appertains, and

I g p Patented Aug. 2:1, 19.17. App1i cation filed December 16,1916.Serial-No. 137.451. I

small loop I therefore do not limit my invention to the wire beingtwisted together to preserve the specific details of a device embodyingthe shape of the body, the twisted portions exsame as herein shown anddescribed. tending diametrically inward and terminat I claim as new anddesire to secure by Leting in two divergent supporting legs of 15 tersPatent: I equal length, said body being adapted to A supporting deviceof the character desupport the back of a picture or the like and scribedcomprising a single strand ofwire invisible from the front when saidpicture presenting a rectangular body having diagis in position. 7onally disposed pockets at its corners said In testimony whereof I afiixmy signature. 20 pockets having retaining portions in front of the planeof said body, portions of said WILLIAM J. SATTERLEE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, I). G. s

